22. There also is said at
what work the Apostle wrought. “After these things,” it says,
“he departed from Athens and came to Corinth; and having found a
certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from
Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had ordered
all Jews to depart from Rome, he came unto them, and because he was
of the same craft he abode with them, doing work: for they were
tent-makers.”25492549Acts xviii. 1–3 This if
they shall essay to interpret allegorically, they show what
proficients they be in ecclesiastical learning, on which they glory
that they bestow all their time. And, at the least, touching those
sayings above recited, “Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power
to forbear working?” and, “We have not used this power;”255025501 Cor. ix. 6–12 and,
“When we might be burdensome to you, as Apostles of Christ,”255125511 Thess. ii. 6 and,
“Night and day working that we might not burden any of you;”255225522 Thess. iii. 8 and,
“The Lord hath ordained for them which preach the Gospel, of the
Gospel to live; but I have used none of these things:”255325531 Cor. ix. 14, 15 and the
rest of this kind, let them either expound otherwise, or if by most
clear shining light of truth they be put to it, let them understand
and obey; or if to obey they be either unwilling or unable, at
least let them own them which be willing, to be better, and them
which be also able, to be happier men than they. For it is one
thing to plead infirmity of body, either truly alleged, or falsely
pretended: but another so to be deceived and so to deceive, that it
shall even be thought a proof of righteousness obtaining more
mightily in servants of God, if laziness have gotten power to reign
among a set of ignorant men. He, namely, who shows a true infirmity
of body, must be humanely dealt withal; he who pretends a false
one, and cannot be convicted, must be left unto God: yet neither of
them fixeth a pernicious rule; because a good servant of God both
serves his manifestly infirm brother; and, when the other deceives,
if he believes him because he does not think him a bad man, he does
not imitate him that he may be bad; and if he believe him not; he
thinks him deceitful, and does, nevertheless, not imitate him. But
when a man says, “This is true righteousness, that by doing no
bodily work we imitate the birds of the air, because he who shall
do any such work, goes against the Gospel:” whoso being infirm in
mind hears and believes this, that person, not for that he so
bestows all his time, but for that he so erreth, must be mourned
over.